Ceiling



i March 1, 1949. I s R. NAYSMlTH ET AL 2,463,047

IIIII NG \NVENTOR s, R.'NAYSMITH ET AL 2,463,047

March 1, 1949.

CEILING 2 SheetsS heet 2 Filed Sept. 7,1945

I l INVENTORS SHIRLEY/Q/VAYSM/TH KICIMRDM fizz/v05 ATTORNEY PatentedMar. 1, 1949 CEILING Shirley R. Naysmith and Richard M. Runge, Meriden,Conn., assignors to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn, a corporation ofConnecticut Application September 7, 1945, Serial No. 614,932

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to ceilings and i more particularlydirected toward hung ceilings adapted to include wherever desired in theceiling, inbuilt or flush mounted lighting equipment.

In practicing the present invention it is possible to employ commonsuspension means for both the surfacing material of the ceiling and thewiring channels of the lighting equipment in. such a manner that thesuspension means supports either the ceiling surfacing material alone orthe wire channels alone or both ceiling and wiring channels, as morefully discussed in Patent 2,376,715, May 22, 1945.

The present invention contemplates improved yokes for use in suchceiling constructions of increased rigidity and with improved facilitiesfor supporting the wiring channel of the lighting fixture from the yokeas well as for the securement of the yoke to the hanger by which it issuspended. The invention also contemplates improvements in the yoke perse which facilitates securing to it the T-bar used in common forms ofacoustical ceiling.

Other and further objects will hereinafter appear as the descriptionproceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, two embodiments in which the invention may take one form,together with modifications of certain parts, it being understood thatthe drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting thesame.

In these drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views taken from above, of hung ceilingsadapted to receive recessed lighting equipment, showing difierentarrangements for supporting the ceiling and wiring channels;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating a clamp hang-er for a wiringchannel;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one form of hanger yoke used forsupporting both the hung ceiling and the wiring channel or either;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the hanger yoke of Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views on the lines 6-6 and '|lon Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the clamping members detached;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of another form of construction;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the structure of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a modified formof construction.

In the arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2, hanger rods W are securedtothe structural ceiling not shown in suitable spacings. Where tiledceilings are employed the spacing of the rows of hanger rods is such asto accommodate the tiles. The spacing of the hanger rods lengthwise ofthe row-s depends upon the structural layout and where lightingequipment is to be or may be employed. Each of the hanger rods H] ofFigures 1 and 2 is secured to a suitable hanger.

The hanger shown in Figures 4 to 9 employs a hanger strap H of invertedU-shape with a slot 12 to receive the hanger rod and with feet I3,secured to bolts l3 welded to a hanger yoke M. This yoke is made out ofsteel of channel-shaped cross-section and is bent into an inverted U-shape as will be apparent from the drawings. The web Ma of the channelis provided with an aperture |5 (see Figure 8) through which projects alug it formed out of the hanger strap II. This lug is provided with atapped hole to receive a bolt H.

The yoke I4 receives two clamping members 53 and I9 which forconvenience in manufacture, are made alike and are shown more clearly inFigure 9. Each clamp member is made out of channel-shaped stock,provided with an opening 2|! of the proper size to permit sliding aclamping member along the channel forming the yoke M. The materialpunched out to form the opening 20 provides two welding lugs 20a whichfit outside the yoke. The opening 2|] is so located that the upperflanges 2| of these clamping members fit the top of the flanges Mb ofthe yoke l6 and then the lower flanges 22 of the clamping members arethen spaced below the web Me of the yoke l4. Each clamping member has adownwardly bent lug 23 formed out of the material of the lower flange 22and this downwardly bent lug is provided with a hole 24. The cut-out ofthis lower flange provides a slot or opening in it which accommodatesthe lug It so that the edges of the flanges 22 of the right handclamping member may be forced against the head of the wiring channel bythe bolt H.

The clamping member |8 on the left hand side of Figures 4, 5 and 8, isbrought against a positioning lug 25 and the welding lugs 20a are spotwelded to the yoke as indicated at 26. It, therefore, provides a fixedabutment for the bead 21 along the left hand side of the wiring channel28. The member IS on the right is loose and the bolt IT is used to forcethe clamping member to the left and press its lower flange 22 under thebead 21a on the right hand side of the wiring channel 28. Twisting isprevented by the top flange 2| riding along the edges of flanges Mb. Inthis manner the wiring channel can be secured to all the yokes M in arow of yokes wherever lighting equipment is desired.

The lower ends 30, 30 of the yokes M are :pro-

vided with slots 3|, 3| cut in the flanges b.1411

3 and a portion of the material of the flange below these slots isremoved as indicated at 32. These slots are atz ther-ight elevation toreceive the side flanges 33 provided in the T-barr34icommonly em.-ployed for the support of acoustic ceilings. The

T-b-ar is secured in place by clamp straps and bolts 36, and cannottwist out of place.

The yokes illustrated in detail in Figures 4 to 9 are of the properwidth tospacethe T-harsfifi 34 the distance to receive. aceilingtile-which closes ofi the space underneath.the row :ofsyokes=.

where no lighting fixture is desired. Where, how.- ever, the lightingequipment is desired the wiring channel can be secured in place in avery-rigid;

manner by the clamping devices shown. As the han er stra i -sttflrslgbolt d o the hanger yoke and oneof the clarnping members iswelded to theyoke andthe load ,off the lighting, equipment is transferred directly tothe. hanger strap, the entire structure-ise itremely rigidand unlikelytot stor sd undsrz an load-( h can C0111- oe vabl en a od upon it In aceiling n t latt on s thas own in F 767 thsh nes ods-19mm strap 1 1 andY s l tarespaced suitably, about the; ceiling area so as t sup portalLofthe. Ceiling itseli and provide supports in. wiring troughswhereverfixturesare desired. Theyplgessupportthe T -.bars 34 along d ithnia ab ve d scrib T v l o suppo t suit bl l n itudina ysxt'snd n an l mm s '35 w ichinur .su nortcrossr h nnels 3.6 so t t otheradditionalT-bars 3,4.,r nay he .carried it de s ds n in thi wa -supports are p ovd d in all the ce lingsurfasinamater al for t es t e ing. The wiringchannel and fixturesimay be seured to ho vokssbsio omit h ceilinisinstal sd ndithaoeilingsan ei stalled befo or afterthefisture Allyorm-own d .orplastered e lin maybe oarrisdi om th an r gurez. how;asomewhatsimilar. in tallation u he e the h n er. rods and Y kes.respaced f rther part andinterm diateyokes14' arcinstal ed. or. h urpoi. ldin the, ceiling r mswo kt sth r ovidin n i t m diatss p r Wattscha el: Such a vyobs t ma be thss m as the oke ex t t ati does.n tyethehan n trap n tead it is provid d wit i wol i .5.1- ssE ail s 2) simar othe. 1 v l i r lous r de cribed h lamossmsmbsr'. t9 andbo 1. may.bat e sa e as above set. orth.

some instancesit is alsodesirab'le to support the. wiri o a ins id rsstv ro ah n s t r W tho av n a y. iio s snd i n. h s ase n ses a ha e uches llus r s a 1 Figure the w ring shann l' s pps d b a h ge such as,3-"l, yokes such-as M'ma be used elsewhere to support. the ceiling fromthe wiring channel. Where; it is desired to have the T-bars such as 34-'extend at right angles to the direction of the wiring-troughs, the yokesaresecured to the channels such a indicated at 38 andthesechannels carrythe T-bars.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 10 and 11, the hanger strap l ldiffersfrom' the one,

shown in Figures 4-'-8--i-n that it; isarranged for welding directlyto;theyo keandit does not have a downwardly extending lug IB.- The yoke40 is verysimilar to the yoke l4-above described. The clamp members 4|and are alike and made out of channel-stock.- The-yokelllisprovidedwith-a; lug 43 similar to-the lug 25. Thechannel isprovided with a reversely bent prong 44 130 fit under theyokeandthechannel l is welded to the-yoke inthe location indicated. Theclamping member- -42 is slidable I along: the yoke: and

bolts 45 are employed to force the slidable clamp toward the fixedclamp. The extent to which theslidable clamp can movewtothedeft islimited by'the prongs 4B1 bumped-out of: the material forming the flangeof the yoke. The arrangement shown in Figures 10 and 11 functions ingeneral the same as the construction shown in Figures 4'to 9.

Since it is. obviousthat the invention may be embodied .in-other-formsand constructions within the scope-of the claims, we wish it to beunderstood thitfithe. particular, forms shown are but a few of theseforms, and various modifications and changes being possible, we do nototherwise limit ourselves in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed-is;

1. Means; forsupporting a suspended ceiling and a lighting fixturewiring; channel having beads along -its'upper. edge, comprising aninverted U-shaped ceiling hanger yoke having mfiansg at its. lower, endsfor the .support of the suspended ceiling, and means carried by. itsupper centrahportion for supporting thewiring chant nel, said latter"mentioned means including a fixedclamp member and a-slidable clampmember carried by the: hanger. yoke on opposite sides of the centerthereof, the, clamp. members being. in the form of channels. each havingan aperture in the web portion thereof to,fit the yoke and disposed toplace the. top flange of the clamp member against-ptheupper-edgesof thesidesof the yokeand the lower-flange of theclamp. member below the yokein. a=p9sition;to enter the bead of the wiring channel and bolt-meansfor forcing the clamp members. toward one. another.

2. Means for'supportin-g aceiling-and a wiring channel as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the lower ends of, the .yokes haye slots to, receivethe side flanges of ceiling T-bars.

3. Means-for supportingaceiling and a wiring channel as claimedminclaim.1, having. inverted U.shaped hangerstraps above the centers of certainof the yokesand .welded to them.

4; Meansjons upport-ing a .ceiling. and. a wiring channel. as,cla-imedinclaim 1, wherein the last mentioned means includes. two boltsextending from one [clamp member tov the. other and. alongside thehanger yoke.

5. A device for supporting... the. longitudinal membersof ahung ceiling.and a. lighting fixture wiring channel {having longitudinally. extendingbeads; alongitaupp er edge, ..comprising abar of channelcross-sectionbent, intoan; inverted U.- shape with a horizontal top andvertical; sides,

the'latterhaving. means, to support the. hung ceiling, the top. having-.downwardly bent fixed lugs-spaced wider-thflnthe beads. of thechannel,two clamp members each ofv channel cross-section apertured. totslidesalong; theyokesand of a size such that the; upper flanges v of theclamp. members fit the top of the gflanggspof the, yoke, and thelowerflangesiare-z-spaced below'the web of the channel, forming; the yoke;one iclam-p member wiring: 011311111611;

6. A device as claimed in claim 5; having. inverted U.-shaped hangerstraps above the centers of certain of;"'the:yokes;andweldedto them.

7'. In combination,- .a 1 ceiling; supporting .yoke

of; invertedUeshapedieonfiguration and; channel shaped cross-sectionwith the web of the channel interiorly disposed, the yoke having adownwardly ibent positioning lug and a downwardly bent lug having athreaded hole, a slidable clamp member apertured to receive the yoke andhaving an upper flange overlying the edges of the flanges of the yoke, alower flange spaced below the web of the yoke, and an apertured lugopposite the threaded hole, a second clamp member of similar contour tothe first and welded to the yoke with its web against the positioninglug with its lower flanges facing inwardly, and a clamping bolt threadedinto the hole for forcing the first clamp member inwardly.

8. An inverted U-shaped ceiling hanger yoke of channel shapedcross-section having means at its lower ends for the support of asuspended ceiling, and means carried by its upper central portion forsupporting a wiring channel having side beads along its upper edge, saidlatter mentioned means including a positioning lug bent downwardly outof the channel web, a second downwardly extending lug fixedly secured tothe channel web and provided with a tapped hole,

two clamp members of channel shaped cross- 0 lower flanges of the clampmembers being spaced below the web of the channel forming the hanger 3yoke, one clamp member being welded to the hanger yoke alongside thepositioning lug, the other clamp member having a cut-out in the lowerflange to accommodate the second lug and a bolt hole opposite thethreaded hole in the second lug, and a bolt passing through the bolthole and threaded into the threaded hole.

9. Means for supporting a ceiling and a wiring channel as claimed inclaim 1, having inverted U-shaped hanger straps above the centers ofcertain of the yokes and welded to them, and wherein one end of thehanger straps extends downwardly through an opening in the yokes and hasa tapped hole for the bolt means.

SHIRLEY R. NAYSMITH. RICHARD M. RUNGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,313,687 Walker et a1. Mar. 9,1943 2,376,715 Naysmith May 22, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date121,918 Great Britain Jan. 9, 1919

